For those readers unfamiliar with Australian terms, a work party is a group of people who get together to complete a task. For example, friends and family might form a work party to set up an engagement party for a couple.
*
Ren opened the front door and stepped inside so 'Tanaya could follow him in. He heard her close the door behind them and he led the way up the hallway. Brad, Janey, Nicky and possibly Brent and Matty should be in the kitchen eating.
Ren stopped at the door of 'Tanaya and Brad's room when he heard movement within. He looked inside then grinned at 'Tanaya over his shoulder as he jerked his head towards the room.
'Tanaya poked Ren in the ribs making him move so she could walk into the room.
"Trust you to knock yourself around while I'm away," 'Tanaya said softly.
" 'Tanaya!" Brad whirled around, a large grin spreading across his face. He held out his good arm and 'Tanaya rushed into his embrace. He folded his arm around her and kissed her hungrily.
Ren smiled at the sight of them locked in each other's arms, totally unaware of all else. "I think I'll go find Janey," he said but neither of them heard him as he turned away.
Brad reluctantly stopped kissing 'Tanaya when she pulled back from him. Her hands were skimming over his shoulders as she ran her eyes over his injured arm.
"How bad is it? What exactly did you do?" 'Tanaya's eyes showed her worry as she looked into his face.
" On the way to work Hank had to swerve to avoid a car that came around a blind corner on the wrong side of the road. We went off the road and side swiped a tree, my window shattered and the door was shredded up pretty bad. A piece of metal ripped into my forearm. There's a lot of muscle damage but no arteries, major blood vessels or tendons were damaged. The metal actually cut the bone as well. There'll be a lot of physio but I'll recover," Brad said calmly.
'Tanaya went pale at his words and swayed slightly but Brad still had his good arm around her and pulled her hard against his body.
"But Janey only said you'd been cut by glass!" 'Tanaya said, her eyes wide with distress.
"Brent and I told her what to say. Brent said you'd panic if you knew how bad it actually was," Brad said gently.
"You bastards!" 'Tanaya punched him in his uninjured shoulder then ran her hand anxiously over the spot, "nowhere else was injured?"
"Just my arm," Brad reassured her before adding softly, "and my heart with you being away,"
"Oh Brad," 'Tanaya sighed softly and glanced at his arm. "Does it hurt?"
"It aches like the devil when the pain killers wear off but that'll pass after a week or more," Brad said levelly. He lowered his head to sniff her hair and frowned when he couldn't smell her regular shampoo. "Smells like you been showering with Ren."
"Ha, you only wish so you could watch," 'Tanaya nearly laughed as she lifted her head to kiss him softly on his lips.
"Damn but I've missed you," Brad said thickly when their lips parted.
"I've missed you too," 'Tanaya whispered.
"Marry me," Brad said. The words came from nowhere but as they left his lips Brad realised that this was exactly what he wanted.
"What?" 'Tanaya said shock colouring her voice.
"Let's get married. These past few days apart have shown me exactly how much I love you. Marry me," Brad urged.
"What about Janey and Nicky?" 'Tanaya asked cautiously.
"I love you, not her. And as for Nicky, Janey will be willing to work things out with us," Brad said confidently. "So will you marry me Shantanaya Redwolf?"
'Tanaya stared at Brad for a few moments before a happy grin slowly spread across her face.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" 'Tanaya shouted happily.
* * * * *
Ren leant against the door jam as he watched Janey lifting Nicky into the high chair and placing his plate of food in front of him. He smiled to himself as he heard the boys' cry of delight then Janey's gasp; obviously Nicky had not been able to wait and had grabbed for his food before Janey had let go of it.
"So is everyone's food ready or just Nicky's," Ren asked with a grin. He only had eyes for Janey as she turned around to face him, surprise showing on her face. He was dimly aware of Brent and Matty stepping into view and speaking to him and he nodded at them without really listening to them.
"Gabriel," Janey said on a breathy sigh.
"Dar! Dar! Dar!" Nicky screamed and banged his spoon on the side of his plate. The plate tipped over spilling food onto the highchair tray and onto Janey as well.
"Where's 'Tanaya," Janey asked as it registered she wasn't in the doorway or behind Ren.
"She couldn't make it past the bedroom when she heard Brad moving around in there," Ren said with a grin. As he took in the array of emotions that were flickering deep in Janey's eyes he realised just how much he had missed her the few days he had been away.
The problems that had seemed insurmountable suddenly became meaningless as his heart expanded at the sight of her. He recognised the uncertainty in her eyes and mentally kicked himself for the things he had said to her before leaving.
"Well at least Nicky is happy to see me," Ren said lightly as he walked into the room and scooped Nicky up out of the highchair.
Nicky was talking excitedly, there was a jumble of sounds and words coming from him and every so often clearly recognisable words could be heard.
"Your words have improved so much even in the few days I been away. Nicky is so clever isn't he Mummy," Ren directed his question at Janey. She smiled fondly at her son as he chatted to Ren and opened and closed his little fists in front of Ren's face.
Janey glanced at Ren's face and looked away quickly when he smiled brightly at her. Confusion crowded her mind; he had said their relationship was over but here he was speaking and acting as if things were still the same.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The sound of 'Tanaya shouting happily could be heard clearly.
"Naynay!" Nicky yelled as if she had been calling him. He wriggled to be put on the floor and when Ren obliged he took off for the door at a run calling "Naynay!"
Janey laughed softly and shook her head, "I'm telling Brad it's your fault Nicky is interrupting whatever they're doing," Janey said even though she was sure that whatever they were doing wouldn't be x-rated.
"'Tanaya probably yelled so someone would save her," Ren laughed as he slipped his arms around Janey. He felt her tense in his arms but pressed a kiss to the side of her neck anyway.
"You broke off with me, remember?" Janey turned to face him and pushed herself away from him.
"We can work things out. I'm sure we can. We WILL talk, will listen and I remember to stay calm," Ren said apologetically.
Janey turned away and began to clean up the spilled food she had been going to feed Nicky.
"Are you guys fighting?" Matty asked quietly.
"They had better not be," Brad said from the doorway.
Janey glanced towards him. He stood in the doorway with his good arm around 'Tanaya who held Nicky as he cuddled into her. Clearly he had missed her being in the house over the weekend.
"Listen up people," Brad said then glanced down at 'Tanaya.
"Brad has asked me to marry him, I said yes," 'Tanaya announced happily.
"Congratulations!" Ren said and went over to shake Brad's uninjured hand even though it was the left hand.
"Yeah, congratulations," Matty said as he shook Brad's hand next.
"I hope both of you will be very happy," Brent said.
'Tanaya smiled at him and nodded slightly, "Thank you. That means a lot coming from you."
"I just want to see you happy," Brent said before walking past them.
There was silence as they all listened to him walk up the hallway and out the front door.
"You're okay with it?" 'Tanaya directed her comment to Janey.
